Stem mastering
Stem mastering is mastering from 4 to 8 grouped stems instead of one stereo file. Working from stems, I can treat drums, bass, music and vocals separately, which fixes problems like a buried vocal or a boomy low end that stereo mastering can only partly correct.
$140 per track, up to 8 stems, with two rounds of revisions. Book stem mastering
How to export stems
- Group your mix into 4 to 8 stems, for example drums, bass, music, vocals and effects.
- Start every stem at the same point, bar 1, so they line up exactly.
- Keep the processing on each stem, but turn off anything on the master bus.
- Export 24-bit or 32-bit float WAV files at your session's sample rate.
- Include a stereo bounce of the full mix as a reference.
When it's worth it
Stem mastering suits self-produced records, home mixes and projects mixed by several people. You get mix-level control at the mastering stage without paying for a remix.
Questions
What is the difference between stereo mastering and stem mastering?
Stereo mastering works from one finished stereo mix per song. Stem mastering works from 4 to 8 grouped stems, such as drums, bass, music and vocals, so the engineer can fix balance problems like a buried vocal or harsh cymbals that can't be fully corrected in a stereo mix.
How many stems should I send?
Between 4 and 8 per song. Common groups are drums, bass, guitars or keys, lead vocal, backing vocals and effects. More than that turns the job into mixing.
Should stems include effects like reverb?
Yes. Print each stem with its own effects and processing, so that playing all the stems together sounds exactly like your mix. If you want reverb returns adjustable, send them as a separate stem.
How long does mastering take?
Most projects are delivered within 3–7 business days. If you have a release date, mention it when you book and I'll schedule around it. Delivery within 48 hours costs 50% extra.
How many revisions are included?
Two rounds of revisions are included. They cover changes to the master, like tone, level or the spacing between songs. A new mix counts as a new master.